The only Friday regional game was an ECC tilt in Rochester. Here's how it shook out:
BRIDGEPORT 96 ROBERTS WESLEYAN 76
Sam Joseph amassed 23 points, 15 rebounds and four assists to lead Bridgeport past Roberts Wesleyan at the Voller Athletic Center for a split of its Western New York swing, moving into a tie for third place amd even in the loss column for second. A 17-0 surge late in the first half - triggered by one of four dunks from Kyle Benjamin - was the difference-maker as the Purple Knights flipped a 32-27 deficit into a 44-32 lead with 2:51 to play. The undermanned Redhawks - who only dressed seven - hung in there, pulling within 54-52 on a Quinn Carey 3-pointer nearly six minutes into the second half, and were still within 74-68 with roughly seven-and-a-half minutes remaining when Carlos Dejesus (17 points) nailed one of his five triples to set in motion a game-ending, 22-6 run. Benjamin also double-doubled with 18 points (8-11 FG) and 15 boards, while Sharif Cobb racked up a season-high 20 points (8-11 FG) and four assists off the bench. Carey "carried" the Redhawks with 32 points in 40 minutes, fueled by sizzling 9-of-16 shooting from beyond the arc, though it wasn't nearly enough to prevent an eighth straight loss. Manny Joseph also played well in a losing effort with 22 points (8-12 FG), six boards and six assists. Bridgeport outshot (52%-44%), outrebounded (44-29) and out-assisted (23-13) its hosts, and both teams were letting it fly from long distance (UB 13-31, RWC 11-23).